Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius publicly considered the possibility that Sen. Barack Obama’s race might be a factor in this year’s presidential election during an appearance here Tuesday.

“Have any of you noticed that Barack Obama is part African-American?” Sebelius asked in response to a question about why the election is so close. “That may be a factor. All the code language, all that doesn’t show up in the polls. And that may be a factor for some people.”

I really must congratulate the Governor for arriving at this determination and then informing us. I honestly had no idea, until now, that Sen. Barack Obama was an African-American! I simply hadn’t known! How wonderful of the Gov. to inform me!

OK, end of sarcasm.

Please. This is getting old already. Yes, Obama is African-American. Yes, some whites will not vote for him because of that. So yes, it does make a little bit of difference.

But if you think this election is about Sen. Obama’s race, guess again. The same issues would matter, regardless of who the Democratic party chose as its nominee!

This is an example of two tactics: First, hypertriviality (i.e. making a big deal out of something minor), and second, emotivism (i.e. dismissing as a racist anyone who won’t vote for Obama). Sorry, Kathleen, I ain’t taking that bait.